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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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14 years ago

qip_path in Megawizard?

.qip files generated by Megawizard contain a path variable quartus(qip_path). How can I set that to something relevant to my project? Either in Megawizard or at the tcl command line or ....

Getting no help from Quartus HELP ...

thanks

9 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    Tcl command 'set $::quartus(qip_path) <path_name>' should work. You can see what it is currently set to with 'put $::quartus(qip_path) if you want.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    Thanks for the reply. Tcl command line interpreter likes the "set" command, but the "put" generates errors. [Figured out this works with puts, instead of put]

    More important, I executed the "set" command from the tcl command line in the Quartus GUI then used the Megawizard to generate an IP. I expected to find the new value of quartus(qip_path) in the newly generated .qip file, but it wasn't there.

    Does Megawizard always generate "quartus(qip_path)" in the .qip file, even if this variable has been set to a specific value?

    If that is the case, then I need to know how to set the variable "qip_path" from the GUI so that it will always run each time I click on "compile design."

    I tried to figure out how to embed a tcl file in the project GUI, but Quartus help only tells me how to generate a tcl file to replace the GUI.

    I must be missing something simple.

    Thanks for any help.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    Sorry about the typo, yes I meant "puts".

    The $::quartus(qip_path) is embedded in Quartus II, and will be put in the MW-generated output file each time you run the MW. You can put the set command in the .qip file as the first line, and then each time you compile it will be executed. You will however need to add this back in if you run the MW again and change anything.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    Re the typo: actually set also works fine with no value:

    set $::quartus(qip_path)

    But what you have told me is really ugly: in my current project I have 18 IPs instantiated.

    That means editing the path into 18 different files. Yikes! :eek:

    I had assumed that quartus(qip_path) was a system variable that could be globally set in a .qsf file, for example.

    But obviously you are just the messenger... thanks for the information.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    Not sure why you are trying to change this anyway. Normally, this is not something that a user changes. I've worked on hundreds of projects and never touched this system variable. If your MW-generated files are in a separate directory, you can add that directory as a library (under Settings) and Quartus II will find the files.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    It was never my desire to change the value of qip_path, only to set it to the required value, pointing to the directory where my .vhd files live. Without setting it I was getting error messages from the Quartus fitter that the .vhd file could not be located.

    I did not realize that adding the directory for the .vhd files as a library in Settings would accomplish this. I have not tried it yet, but will do so in the next 24 hours.

    There is absolutely nothing useful in Quartus Help on the subject of qip files...
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    Okay, I thought that might be why you were trying to change this. The correct thing to do is add the path as a library as I stated. Agreed, there is little to no info in Help on the .qip path.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    --- Quote Start ---

    Okay, I thought that might be why you were trying to change this. The correct thing to do is add the path as a library as I stated. Agreed, there is little to no info in Help on the .qip path.

    --- Quote End ---

    I owe you big time! :)

    Adding the directories to the project library list solves the problem in an elegant fashion.

    If you are associated with Altera, perhaps you could suggest that this tip be

    incorporated int the help for qip files.

    thanks again